Latest Joint Ocean Commission Initiative Stories

WASHINGTON, April 16, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Christopher Mann, director with The Pew Charitable Trusts' environmental program, issued the following statement today in response to the federal government's release of the implementation plan for the National Ocean Policy. That policy, established by executive order in July 2010, directs federal agencies to use their authority under existing law to protect, maintain, and restore the health of marine ecosystems, and to promote...

New Report Finds Federal Government Falls Short on Ocean Management While States Step Up to Implement National Ocean Policy WASHINGTON, June 6, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Joint Ocean Commission Initiative released its 2012 U.S. Ocean Policy Report Card today, praising state and regional efforts to implement the National Ocean Policy that is critical to our national security, coastal economies and the health of our ocean resources. While commending solid steps taken by...

Resolving the world’s major challenges whether climate change, environmental pollution, urbanisation, our ageing population or resource scarcity requires a sweeping shift in our approach to sustainability research and education, a group of leading scientists told European policy makers today during the launch of their report “Responses to Environmental and Societal Challenges for our Unstable Earth” (RESCUE). A joint initiative by the European Science Foundation (ESF) and European...

Draft requests comments on actions agencies will take to improve the health of oceans, coasts, Great Lakes To address the most pressing challenges facing ocean, coastal and Great Lakes resources, the federal government today released a National Ocean Policy action plan. The draft requests comments on actions the National Science Foundation (NSF) and other federal agencies on the National Ocean Council will take to improve the health of the ocean, coasts and Great Lakes, which support...

New funding signed into law WASHINGTON, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Lee Crockett, director of federal fisheries policy for the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement today in response to President Obama signing the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012, which allocates $161 million to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for much-needed fisheries research and monitoring programs. "We welcome this $161 million...

WASHINGTON, July 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The White House today announced the creation of a unifying national ocean policy that will protect key natural resources and ensure that sustainability will drive future economic activities offshore and close to shore. "Our planet is 70 percent blue, and our national economic and environmental policies should keep it that color," said Chris Mann, senior officer for the Pew Environment Group. "Whether it's recovering from the devastating oil...

WASHINGTON, Sept. 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Joshua Reichert, managing director of the Pew Environment Group, issued the following statement in response to recommendations for a national ocean policy issued by President Obama's task force. "Today's recommendations by the President's ocean policy task force are an important step in the effort to restore the health of the nation's marine environment. Oceans form a critical part of the planet's life support system and are also a vital...

Symposium to Focus on Ocean's Role in America's Financial Future WASHINGTON, June 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NOAA Administrator, Dr. Jane Lubchenco, will give the keynote address to leading government policy makers, scientists, non-governmental groups and federal agency officials at the opening session of the Capitol Hill Ocean Week (CHOW) Symposium, hosted by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation (NMSF), on June 9th at the Reserve Officers Association building on Capitol Hill....

WASHINGTON -- The United States made modest progress on protecting its oceans last year, but still needs to boost funding for desperately needed reforms, a commission on ocean policy said Tuesday.Overall, the U.S. earned a "C-" grade from the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, a collaboration between the U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy and the privately funded Pew Oceans Commission. That was a slight improvement over a "D+" grade on the commission's report card for...